Ok maybe I was a little harsh on Phelps, both when playing FB play there with a different style, Amos has a superb running game and provides lot's of offloads for his team mates. Phelps on the other hand has a good kicking and passing game when chiming in to the attack. However Amos is the more dangerous player than Phelps, so it's only right you want to get the ball in his hands and much as possible.

For me Phelps plays as more of a distributor of the ball where was Amos tends to play on the fringes when both are attacking. It's just down to personal choice that I'd go with Amos at 1, but Phelps has now got an opportunity to show Madge he should be are FB even when Amos is fit.

I'd like to see Phelps given a go at 6, when he'd be given the chance I don't know, after all we don't want to weaken are attack in games just to try new out combinations and possibly lose the match because of it. Plus as we all know it can take multiple games for a halfback pairing to find some kind of rapport with each other.

I agree with this.

I can't help worrying on Phelps's behalf.

He needed a big season this year to get himself a new contract, and though he started very well, his injuries and the time it's taking him to rediscover his form are not helping at all.

As a fan, I like him. But if I was the chairman, having to think about the cap, overseas quota, etc, I'd be contemplating a difficult decision.

He needs a big second half to the season.

I agree. I think he will be gone at the end of this season. MM will have some ideas of players to bring in so somebody will have to be sacrificed for this to happen. Id say him and Feka are the two likeliest to get the bullet at the moment but theres still time for them to turn it around.

Agreed, he's been sluggish since returning from injury. Hopefully starting on Friday he can rediscover the form that had him right up there amoungst our best performers at the start of the year.

I wasn't at the Sheffield game so don't know how Phepls ended up in a one on one v a fast player like Barnett on two occaisons but I'd hazard a guess it's the first time this has happened to whoever has been playing full back this season.

Our defensive pattern has been so good I can't really remember any time we have had to rely on the full back to pull off a Radlinski type cover tackle.

That's both a positive and a negative. It's positive because when the team concentrates (and it doesn't seem like it did at Sheffield) our defence is so good we don't find ourselves in this position often. It's a negative that when we did the full back missed the tackles.

I take the point he was seeing stars for one of them but I have had my reservations about his defence for some time. So benefit of the doubt for Phepls on the Sheffield game but I wonder if other coaches will start to see him as a weak link defensively and what MM will do when Roberts returns?

Dave

Everyone should not forget he has been out for a few games and it takes time to get back to match fitness

Exactly. Before he was injured there was nothing but praise for the lad, his attitude and commitment!!

I'd say he deserves a bit of that in return for now.

1 game does not = form.

For my money it's not match fitness, it's defensive full back play. He didn't have to be faster than Barnett, just had to come in and close him down rather than being indecisive. I really don't think that Phelps has the defensive capabilities of a full back, can anyone honestly remember the last time he made a one on one tackle? Richards to full back for me with Phelps and Tomkins pairing at half back if Leuluai's still out, if he returns then Phelps should probably be dropped, even if under the guise of getting him match fit.

p.s just realised I've slated him a fair bit, I do of course really rate his attacking play and you can tell he's got a good attitude and I think he could make it as a stand off for sure if given a run there.

I was not at the game yesterday but is it not possible that Phelps lack of Match fitness led him to him being indecisive?

When i am Knacked i tend to make stupid mistakes before i feel tired.

Take a look at the video highlights Grimmy. There isn't a full back in SL who would have caught Barnett. Slater might have got close. Reminds me of the 'take the outside' try between Offiah and Tate!

Every fullback in the world has been made to look silly in some games at some stage. There is no fullback on the planet that you can be sure won't have something similar happen.

We used to sneak Richie into our Uni side from time to time as our ringer and although he never had the best skills the lad is a natural athlete and a real flyer, could easily have turned his hand to sprinting so there is no disgrace in being left floundering 1 on 1, i would back him to make any fullback look silly in that situation.